Dara Carney-Nedelman
I began working with geospatial tools and communities in 2011 as a member of the National 4-H GPS/GIS Team in high school. After I graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2019 with a B.A. in communication studies, I was the communications specialist for YouthMappers (a network of 400+ university mapping chapters in 80+ countries). Through my involvement in YouthMappers, the last five years as a staff member and chapter co-adviser, I've co-authored four book chapters related to open mapping, open movements, and the Sustainable Development Goals. During my Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in the Lao P.D.R. from 2022-2024, I developed research interests in youth development, geospatial communities, open mapping, rural accessibility, landlocked countries, and experiential learning. While I'm pursuing a master's in geography, I'll be working full-time as the Assistant Director of Nationally Competitive and Experiential Learning Scholarships here at Appalachian.
Outside of open mapping, I enjoy hiking, learning languages (I'm studying Spanish and Lao), traveling to countries off the beaten path, and dancing with Latin Dance Boone.
Winifred Rhea-Unruh
In May 2025, I graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Development. Since then, I have been pursuing a master’s degree in Geography with a concentration in Urban Planning through the accelerated master’s program.
During my undergraduate studies, I worked with Dr. Shay on a research project analyzing car ownership trends in Western North Carolina before and after Hurricane Helene. This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern with the City of Lenoir’s Planning Department, where I contributed to a variety of projects, including GIS mapping, downtown property rendering, and city ordinance research. In addition to my project work, I also had the privilege of observing the inner workings of city government by attending multiple city meetings.
The experiences I have gained at Appalachian State have strengthened my passion for urban planning and design, while preparing me to enter the professional planning field. After completing graduate school, I intend to work for a city planning department and eventually transition into a private urban design consulting firm.
In my free time, I work at the Schaefer Center on campus and enjoy backpacking, traveling, and playing card games with my roommates.